Multi-talented writer, producer, dancer and jazz vocalist Kokoh Conley is the voice of Centro lounge in the Kerry Centre Shangri-La, one of Beijing’s stalwart nightspots. Born in the heart of Texas to two musicians, Kokoh began singing at just eighteen months in her father's church before growing up to study dance and start her own jazz band at the age of nineteen.

Having long ago earned their international stars and won many Chinese hearts performing at the 2008 Olympics, the Kokoh Conley trio (comprising richly experienced musicians Corey D. Abrams and John Cole) now perform live from Monday to Saturday at Centro. The trio took time to have a chat with Agenda about everything from their Grammys and musical inspiration to Air Force experience and famous uncles.

When did you find your voice? Tell us a bit more about your musical backgrounds.
Kokoh Conley: We all come from incredibly musical families, so we’ve always been surrounded by music. We were all taught by family members. The first time I stood up and sang a song in church I was eighteen months old. For us, it’s not something we’ve had to find; you don’t have to think about breathing and that’s what music is to us, it’s as intrinsic as oxygen.
Corey D. Abrams: Exactly, it all started even before childhood did!
John Cole: It’s something that’s been unavoidable for all of us throughout life. We grew up with it all, from our families to church, to marching bands, to working, to choirs, to talent shows. You name it, we’ve done it.

When did you realise that music was more than a hobby and decide to build it into a career?
KC: I focused far more on ballet than on music. Music was just the norm, it wasn’t anything I “did.” Ballet was what I trained to do, and my word do you have to train hard!
JC: I’ve worked as a pilot in the Air Force, and then as a chemist, but music has always been there. It has always been a huge part of me.

When and why did you decide to make music your career?
KC: It’s an easy way to make money. As an African American woman, a career in ballet was and still is very hard to come by. I didn’t want to go to college, I turned down scholarship offers actually; my desire to perform was just too impatient! I just wanted to get out into the world and get up onto that stage, so I started my own jazz band when I was nineteen and that was it.
JC: We’re lucky in that it’s not really a job, it’s getting paid to do something we love, something we just know.

How would you describe your sound?
KC: Collective, eclectic, soulful; there’s this kind of polished fusion that just falls into place.
CDA: We all have a huge respect for the stage and we just work well together creatively.
JC: I agree. There are some incredible musicians with extensive training and huge talent, but they don’t have the blessing of spontaneity and just being able to flow, to jam. Because of how we all got into it and the training we’ve had, we’re lucky enough to have that blessing, we all speak that natural language and movement that creates the real connection between musicians.
KC: When I was training more classically, I found it hard to train myself not to “just feel it” because suddenly there were rules to follow. You have to be very disciplined; that’s the hardest part for me and I think I can say it is for these two as well.

Who is your musical inspiration and why?
JC: My grandma. I associate most of my earliest and happiest musical memories with her, she was an incredible woman. But there are constantly new inspirations throughout life.
CDA: My uncle. He’s a very, very talented man. He started The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians in the 60s.
KC: My mother, the most talented person I know!

What is your favorite album and why?
KC: Whoa, what a question! There are just way too many to choose from!
CDA: Sly & the family stone’s Fresh was the first album I ever bought. I listened to lots of Michael Jackson when I was a kid too.
JC: The first I bought was by Nat King Cole, the first with my name on it was a Gene Chandler record, which is pretty special to me.

What is the best part of your job?
KC: If I’m singing a song, and it triggers something positive inside just one person – whether they’re watch¬ing, or walking past, whether it’s my voice or the lyrics I’m singing – then I’ve succeeded. To see one single person in the audience enjoying it makes me feel like I’ve done a good job; I’ve touched someone somehow. That’s very gratifying.
JC: That’s what it’s all about; music is for enjoying, relaxing, or healing. It evokes emotions.

Has there been a low point in your career?
KC: Are you kidding?! The low points are everywhere; that’s one of the biggest parts of the job. You just have to keep trying, no musician will “make it” without some serious determination. They are very different lows to those you’d get with a normal nine-to-five job, but music in itself is very spiritual, very healing, and if you have the will of music inside you, you’ll get there in the end – it’s a hunger, you just have to. Once, I signed a record deal to release four albums. Only one got made and even that wasn’t released. That was a very big low. You’ve just got to keep going.
CDA: It’s very draining, both emotionally and physically. The traveling, constantly missing my kids and my wife; you’re away from your loved ones so much, there have been times when that’s almost pushed me away from music altogether. It has such a massive impact on your personal life.
JC: When I was in the seventh grade, I was a smart-ass with my band teacher because I didn’t want to be put in the beginners’ level where we’d all just kind of been shoved in together. I was bored, I caused trouble, and he kicked me out. I was devastated. My ex-wife telling me I’d never make it as a musician wasn’t great either, so when I won a Grammy for something I’d been involved in I mailed it straight to her. She had it sitting all nice and pretty on her mantelpiece the last time I was in her house!

You all have abundant experience in every aspect of music. Are you happiest when recording, performing or writing?
KC: Performing. When I’m in the studio I leave that place as soon as I can. For me, it’s all about the stage.
CDA: My mood determines whether or not I’d rather be singing or playing an instrument. I’m a creator, I love writing and composing and recording, all of that. I love to work with new people and just create.
JC: Playing. Hopefully I’ll see a few people enjoying themselves!

Where are your favourite hangouts?
KC: I don’t get out that much because the time difference means I’m skyping my kids through most of the Beijing night – even if they’re playing video games or tidying their room or doing homework I’ll be there online in the background.
CDA, JC: Tim’s Texas Bar-B-Q. We’re there a lot.

What is the best thing about being a musician in a city like Beijing as opposed to elsewhere?
CDA: Asia has so many great opportunities, there’s the feeling of appreciation and acceptance.
JC: Yeah, I feel like there’s abundant opportunity for success here.

What can readers expect from an evening at Centro?
KC: Excellent harmonies.
CDA: Well delivered, good music.
JC: A soulful good time! And don’t forget the great staff here!

Tim’s Texas Bar-B-Q Daily 9am-midnight. 14 Dongdaqiao Lu (on the corner of Guanghua Lu), Chaoyang District. (6591 9161) www.timsbarbq.com 朝阳区东大桥路14号贵友大厦正北200米

Centro Daily 24hrs. 1/F, Shangri-La's Kerry Centre Hotel, 1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District. (6561 8833, ask for Centro) 朝阳区光华路1号嘉里中心饭店1层